Huge resort flat blaze suspicious

An investigation is under way into the blaze

A fire which forced the evacuation of a Blackpool residential area is being treated as suspicious, police said.

About 70 firefighters tackled the blaze, which destroyed an unfinished block of flats in Talbot Road.

The timber frame was surrounded by residential properties, some of which were damaged.

No-one was injured in the fire, at about 0345 BST. A number of roads will stay closed over the weekend, and some residents are unable to return home.

About 152 residents, many of them elderly, were evacuated to Blackpool Sports Centre.

Talbot Road will remain closed overnight with buses operating a diverted route.

Alternative accommodation

A number of residents who live in St Antony's Place and some properties near the fire on Talbot Road have not yet been able to return to their homes, and some properties may be unavailable for some time, a council spokesman said.

The majority of residents have been found alternative accommodation.

Building control officers from Blackpool Council are assessing the properties affected by the fire.

The alarm was raised by a passing police officer, who noticed smoke coming from the building.

Police are treating the fire as suspicious, however no cause has yet been established and an investigation is ongoing Police spokeswoman

Lancashire Police confirmed that arson was being investigated as a cause.

A spokeswoman said: "Police are treating the fire as suspicious, however no cause has yet been established and an investigation is ongoing."

Firefighters spent a number of hours tackling the blaze and crews have been checking for hotspots and damping down.

A Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: "The construction... was in the middle of a highly populated residential area, resulting in the evacuation."

Motorists have been warned to expect delays because it is the main route into the town.